Submaeine vessel



(No Model.) 3 sheetssheet 2.

T. NORDBNFBLT.

SUBMARINB VESSEL.

Patented May 9,1882.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. NORDENFELT. SUBMARINE VESSEL.

No. 257,604. Patented May 9,1882.

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N. PETERS. Phote'ullmgnphur, wnshingmn, D. C.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THORSTEN NORDENFELT, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,604, dated May 9, 1882.

Application filed September 9, 1881. (No model.) Patented in England February 17, 1881, in France August 11, 1881, in Belgium August, 1881, and in Italy September 12, 1881.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, THoRsrEN Nennun- FELT, a subject of His Majesty the King of aqueous Boats or Vessels, (for which I have rei ceived, Letters Patent in England, No. 693, dated 17thV February, 1881; in France, No. 144,341, dated 11th August, 1881 in Belgium, No.` 55,521, dated 23d August, 1881; and in Italy, No. 13,323, dated 12th September, 1881,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object improvements in or appertaining to submarine or subaqueous boats or vessels.

1 construct the hull of my vessel to withstand the pressure of the water and to pass readily through the water and attain as much speed as the engine-power admits. Preferably I construct the hull of such proportions that laterally its section is a perfect circle, and a line drawn from bow to stern through the center forms a chord to any longitudinal section of the skin.

The boat is propelled by an ordinary screwpropeller which is actuated by a steam-engine. The boiler is so constructed that although the re-door, ash-pit door, and funnel can be hermetically closed, yet it continues for a limited time to supply the engine with the steam necessary to keep it in motion. For the purpose of causing the descent of such boats or ves sels below thesurface of the water I do not rely upon vertical steering apparatus, nor do 1 cause the vessel to descend by gravity, as

has been done heretofore; but my invention relates to improvements in that class of vessels the descent of which is effected by the direct application of power.

The descending apparatus which I employ consists of an upright tube or tubes and containing a screw or screws which can be driven by shafting passing through stuffing-boxes fromthe interior of the vessel. rihe boat or vessel has a small amount of buoyancy, and consequently rises `to the surface whenever the rotation of the screws or the application of power is suspended.

To prevent the boat or vessel from deviatin g far from a horizontal position when afloat, I provide automatic steering-gear which corrects any deviation from the horizontal by steering the nose of the boat or vessel upward or downward. I arrange in the bow two side rudders upon an axle which runs horizontally through the skin of the boat or vessel. Upon the shaft within the boat or vessel there is an arm which is controlledby a piston workin g in a cylinder. Water or fluid under pressure is admitted to the cylinder, either on one or other side of the piston, 'as may be required,` by a `valve governed by a plumb-weight. When the boat or vessel is upon an even keel, the plumb-weight holds the valve in a middle position, in which it closes both of the passages leading to the cylinder ends; but a deviation ot' the boat or vessel from thehorizontal position causes the valve to uncover one ofthe cylinder-ports to the supply and the other to the exhaust, and the vertical rudders are thus moved to steer the nose of the boat or vessel upward or downward, as may be required, to correct the previous deviation.

In order that the said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.

On Sheet l of the drawings the general construction of the boat is shown in six views.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation. Within the boat are two hot-water tanks, A and A, and the boiler B. F is its telescope-funnel. E is the condenser, and c the main engines driving the stern-screw for propelling, either when at the surface or submerged. They are provided with surface-condensers and all necessary parts usualI in marine engines. c is one of the cylinders of an engine for working the side screws. K is a tank at the sides and bottom,`into which sea-water can be taken for the purpose of regulating the amount of buoyancy to be overcome by the action of the side screws. c is the engine which operates the longitudinal stability rudders R. T is the movable conning-tower.

Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe boat, with such parts of the skin or shell removed as to show the two hot-watcrtanks AV and A', the boiler B, the

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condenser E, the main engine c, the side screws or descending apparatus, S S, and the engine e, for working the longitudinal stability-rudders R. The hot-water tank A is represented in section. This gure also shows the pumps P P2 P3. The duty of these pumps is as follows: P takes from the hot-water tank A and discharges into boiler B. P2 takes from the boiler B and discharges into the hot-water tank A. I)3 takes from Atand discharges into A. The object of these-pumps is that there shall be a complete circulation of the water over the heating-surface of the'boiler B, while a perfect control of the quantity of water in each of these reservoirs is always maintained.

Fig.3is atransverse section taken amidshi ps and looking toward the bow of the boat. It shows the side sinking or Vvertical propelling apparatus, S S, the boiler B, the funnel-box F, the conningtower T, and the cold-water tank t.

Fig. 4 is, to a smaller scale, an end view of the boat.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the boat when arranged for submarine work and just before the side screws begin to operate, being the wa-v ter-line.

Fig. 6 is an elevation ofthe boat when prepared for surface work. The funnel F and the conning-tower T being raised projectfrom the deck. y

Sheet 2 of the drawings shows detail of the descending apparatus. v Fig. 7 is a vertical section, to a large scale, through the tube in which one of the descending-screws S works. It is driven, as will be seen, by beveled gearv from the shaft of its motor-engine, which passes through the side of the vessel by a stufling-box.

Fig. Sis a plan of the descending apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of a tank, t, extending in front of and behind the descending-screw S.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the tank t.

Sheet 3 of the drawings shows the apparatus in connection with the bow-rudders, which tend at all times, when the vessel is in motion below the surface, to preventupward or downward deviation and to cause the forward motion to be in a horizontal plane.

Fig. 11 is a plan ofthe controlling-cylinder.

Fig. 12 is a plan of a portion of the longitudinal stability-rudders R, with their cranked axis It. The sides of the vessel are seen in section.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the controllin g-cylinder with its valve.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section of the fore part of the vessel, and shows the cranked axis R and a part of the connecting-rod by which it is coupled with the piston-rod of the controlling-cylinder.

Fig. 15 is a transverse section of the controlling-cylinder and valve.

The valve V is of the rotary or plug valve class. Itis fixed upon a spindle, to which an arm is also attached, and the arm carries a weight, W. The arm maintains approximately a vertical position, and when the vessel is horizontal the valve V occupies the position in which it is seen in Fig. 13. There is a small accumulator or air-vessel kept charged by a pump, and from this water under pressure is supplied to the chamber in which the valve works. Any deviation of the vessel from a horizontal position causes the water under pressure to enter the cylinder and give motion to the piston, and consequently to the vertical stability-rudders It, in a manner to correct the deviation.

In preparing the vessel to descend, the water in the boiler B and in the hot-water tanks A and A has first to be heated until the pressure in them is as high as they are constructed to bear. The vessel at this time may besteaming at the surface when she is navigated in the ordinary way, being propelled by the sternscrew and steered by the stern-rudder. When it is wished to descend the doors of the boilerfurnace are closed and secured. The doors are made to shut gas-tight. The funnel is then lowered and closed by a tightly-fitting cover, which also fits water-tight to the side of the vessel. The conning-tower also is similarly closed and lowered down. Water is then admitted carefully to the tanks,and the descending apparatus S S is set gently to work. This apparatus will take the vessel down while she is still somewhat lighter than the water displaced. As soon as the gage indicates that the vessel is descending the admission-cocks to the tanks are closed, and they remain closed while the vessel is down, the depth at which she travels beneath the surface being controlled by driving the descending apparatus a little faster or slower, as may be necessary. The vessel is propelled and steered by the stern propeller and rudder, as when at the surface.

The vessel contains suflicient air for the use of the navigators while remaining down for a considerable time, and artiiicial means may be resorted to to maintain its purity, as is well understood. A valve is provided (to be operated by av treadle, or otherwise) by which the ,hot water can be allowed to escape from the boiler and vessels A and A' into the sea. By opening this valve the vessel can, in case of necessity, be almost instantly brought to the' surface at any time. This arrangement insures safety, even in the case of the vessel becoming injured, by collision or otherwise, so as to leak seriously.

It will be seen that by burning fuel in the vessel when she is at the surface I store up power in the form of highly-heated water, and that I employ this power to propel the vessel when submerged, and also to regulate the depth of submergence.

Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim as my improvements in or appertaining to submarine or subaqueous boats or vessels- 1. The combination, with the vessel, of the IOO IIO

screws at its sides rotating about vertical axes, valve-spindle, substantially as and for the purand means for actuating said screws, substanpose set forth. tially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set London, 9th August, 1881.

forth. THORSTEN NORDENFELT. 5 2. The combination of the rudders R R, the Witnesses: t

controlling-cylinder, its piston connected with v CHAs. BERKLEY HARRIS,

the cranked axis ofthe rudders, the valve V, JOHN DEAN,

and the weight attached to the arm of the Both of 17 Gmcchwch Street, London. 

